Printing-press.



(No Model) il l HHN...

WITNESSES:A

Patented Nov. 2|, |899.

E. HETT.

PRINTING PRESS.

(Application led Mar. 6, 1899.)

6 Sheets-Sheet l.

[HIM

Iil

(No Model.)

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll "'mll "Hlm'pn Patented Nov. 2|, |899; E. HETT.

PRINTING PRESS.

(Application led Mar. 6, X899.:

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

'me Nnnms PETERS co., pHoro-Limo.. wnsumm'om n. c.

N0. 637,605. Patented Nov. 2|, |899. E. HETT.

PRINTING PRESS.

(Application led Mar. 6, 1899.1

6 Sheets-Sheel 3.

(No Model.)

Lilli No. 637,605. Patented N'ov. 2|, |899.

E. HETT.

PRINTING PRESS.

(Application led Mar. 6, 1899.)

No. 637,605. Patented Nov. 2|, |8951.v

E. HETT.v PRINTING PRESS.

(Application led Mar. 6, 1899.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR WAITNESSES: M. 'g

ATTURNEYS (Application led Mu. 6, 1899.;

6 Sheets-$heet 6.

(No Model.)

IIII

ATTORNEYS III lilllwy ls mns co., Pumouma, wAswmo'rcm n n Umrrn STAT-Esi PATENT FFIC.

EDWARD Herr, orNEw YORK, N. Y.

PRINTING-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,605, dated November 21, 189e.

apprit-,etnatiiedite'rehfs,1899.` se'rmiNqnomzz. memedel.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern: Be it known that I, EDWARD HETT, of New York, (New Dorp,) in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Printing-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to presses, and especially to rotary sheet-presses.

It has for its object'to provide improved means for gripping the paper or holding it upon the impressiondrum during the printing operation; also,.to provide improved means for delivering the paper, and also to provide an improved impression-surface.

It consists of the novel devices herein shownl pression-surface or, where more than one impression-surface is employed upon the same drum, between the adjacent ends of adjacent impression-surfaces. It has also been customary in such presses to. use mechanical grippers for seizing the sheet after the printing operation for the purpose of withdrawing;

it from the impression-surface and delivering it. mechanical grippers and substitute pneumatic or suction grippers in place thereof, not only for gripping or holding the sheets upon the impression-surface during the printing operation, but also for gripping and seizing the paper after the printing operation forthe purpose of leading it away from the impression-surface and delivering it, and I also preferably employ an impression-drum with a continuous impression-surface.

In the drawings I have shown my invention in its preferred form as embodied in a rotary sheet-press having a plurality of printing-cylinders, although in its broad aspects the invention is not limited to use in such a press, but may be used in a press having but a sin- In my improved device I dispense with' gle printing-cylinder or printing on the web oi' not on a rotary press. I have also shown my invention in the drawings herein as embodied in a lithographie-printing press, although it is obvious that it may be employed in a typographic press.

In the drawings accompanying this speciiication and forming part hereof, and in which similar reference characters in the Ydierent iigures refer to corresponding parts, I have shown an embodiment of myinvention in its preferred form, which I will now proceed to specifically describe.

Figure l is aview of my improved machine taken from one side, and Fig. 2 a view taken from the other side. Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssection taken on they line 3 3 of Fig. 4, viewed as shown by the arrow. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, viewed as shown by the arrow. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section through the impression-drum and delivery-cylinder,with the other parts ofthe press omitted, this view being taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 6, viewed as shown by the arrow. Fig. 6 is a front view .of thet part shown in Fig. 5, with part of the impression-drum cut away to disclose the interior mechanism. Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section through a part of the deliverycylinder.

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section on the line 8 8 of Fig. '7, viewed as shown bythe arrow. Fig. 9 is a horizontal cross-section through the three-way valve of the deliverycylinder; and Fig. lO is a vertical cross-sec- `and 5 5 the damping-frames carrying the damping devices. The inking and damping devices may be of any suitable form and construction, and as they form no part of my present invention they are not shown in detail and will not be further described. The sheets are fed into the press from the feedboard 6, are seized and held in place upon the impression-drum, during the printing operation,by pneumatic gripping devices, presently IOO holding each sheet.

ery-tapes 8, which pass around the deliverycylinder and carry the sheets toany desired point. Y

I will now proceed to describe my improved pneumatic gripping devices for seizing and holding the sheets upon the surface of the impression-drum during the printingoperation. For this purpose I provide at suitable distances apart onthe surface of the impressiondrum sets of `openings 9, one set adapted for These openings may be made of any desired form. As shown in the drawings, they consist of a line of holes iniv the surface of the impression-cylinder. Each set of openings is connected by air-passages with a common air-chamber Within the `interior of the drum, andthe common air-chamber is connected by suitable air-passages with an exhaust device. In 'the form shown in the drawings each hole in the surface of the impression-cylinder is connected bya short pipe to a common pipe 11, the latter being connected by a radial air-passage 12 with a common air-chamber 13 within or connected to the shaft 14 of the impression-drum. Onehalf of shaft 14 is madek hollow, as at 15, the hollow space 15 extending from substantially the center of the shaft to one end. At

the center of the shaft openings 16 connect the hollow part 15 with the common air-cham-` exhaust device may be of any suitable con.

struction and may be operated by any suitable means.v As shown in the drawings, itis driven by belt 20, pulley 21 on shaft 22, pulley 23, belt 24, and pulley 25 on main drivingshaft 26.

The details of construction Yof the exhaust device are not shown and will not be'further described. As a sheet is fed into the press one edge of the sheet lies over a line of openings 9, and at this juncture the air is Aexhausted or` partially exhausted through openings 9, pipes 10 11, and radial passage 12,

inthe manner presently to be described. The edge of the sheet is thus pressed firmly down against the impression-drum and is iirmly held in that positionduring the entire printn ing operation and until the printing operation is completed and the edge of the sheet has reached the delivery devices.

The operation of exhausting the air to hold the sheet upon the impression-drum and of releasing it is preferably done automatically by the following means: In each radial past "outer casing 32.

. are

sage 12 is placed a valve,preferablya,threeway valve 27. The construction of this valve is the same as that shown in Fig. 9, and consists of a solid core or center 28, having a three-way passage through it, which consists of ports 29, 30, and 3l, all connected together, core 28 being surrounded by an outer casing 32, having at each side an opening Core 28 is connected by a rod 34 to a handle 35. This handle is automatically turned one way or Athe other, as presently to be described, thus rotating core 28 and bringing it into the position shown in Fig. 9, Where the ports 29 and 30 register with the openings 33 33, or into the position shown in Fig. 10, one-quarter Way around to the left from that shown in Fig. 9, where port 31 registers with one of the openings 33, and port 29 will then register with a third, opening 36 in the walls of Opening 36 communicates with theouter air. In one position of the Vvalve in each radial passage 12 ports 29 and Vopenings 9 with the common air-chamber 13 .and with the exhaust device.

automatically turned into this position each time that a sheet is fed into they press or as soon as the edge o f the sheet liesover the openings 9 9. This is accomplished by means of a projection 37 upon the framework of the press, against which handle 35 is adapted to strike as the drum reaches the proper position,'as shown in Fig. 5, in which position the sheet 38 will have its forward edge 39 lying over the openings 9. Projection 37 turns handle 35`soas to cause ports 29 and 30 in the valve to register with openings 33 33 in the out'ercasing and with the line ofradial passage 12. The air underneath theopenings 9 will then be exhausted or partially exhausted, holding the forward end 39 of sheet 38 firmly upon the impression-drum. The

sheet will then be carried around the impression-drum and will receive the'variousV irnpressions from the'different printing-cylinders until the printingoperation has been completed and the sheet is in proper position Vfor delivery. When the sheet reaches this position, a projection 40, also secured to the framework of the press, strikes handle 35. This gives the handlea quarter-tu rn, back to its original position, so that port 29 of the -valve registers with openings 36 through the livery-cylinder areat this 'juncture brought opposite to the impression-drum, so that the edge of the sheet just released lies immedi- The valve is IOO IIO

ately over these openings. At substantially the same time also a projection 42, secured to the impression-drum and rotating with it, strikes against a handle of a three-way valve 44. This valve is located in an airpipe 48, which connects the openings 4l in the delivery-cylinder with the exhaust device 19, and the valve is constructed in the same manner as the three-way valves 27, already referred to, and is shown in vertical cross-section in Figs. 9 and 10. When projection 42 strikes valve 43, it gives it a onequarter turn, bringing it into the position shown in Fig. 9, serving to connect the openings with the exhaust device and to exhaust the air wholly or partially in the openings and under the edge of the sheet, thus serving to grip the sheet and hold it firmly upon the delivery-cylinder, by which it is then carried around for a part of its rotation until it passes under biting-roller 45, when it is discharged upon delivery-tapes 8, by which it is discharged from the machine.v In my preferred form the openings 41 in the delivery-cylinder communicate directly with an air-chamber 46, contained Within the shaft of the deliverycylinder, this chamber extending to the end of the shaft and entering a stuffing-box 47, Which furnishes an air-tight joint between it and air-pipe 4S, a part of the stuffing-box in this easing forming outer casing 32 of the valve. Valve 44 is preferably located in the air-pipe 4S. By means of the air-tight joint furnished bystufling-box 47 delivery cylinder 7 is free to rotate without in any way alfeeting the communication between air-chamber 46 and air-pipe 48. When the sheet reaches the point for discharge upon deliverytapes 8, a projection 49, secured to and rotating with delivery-cylinder 7, strikes against handle 43, giving it a quarter-turn back to its original position, (indicated in Fig. 10,) closing the communication between chamber 46 and air-pipe 48 and the exhaust device and connecting chamber 46 and openings 41 with the atmosphere, thus relieving the vacuum in the openings and air-chamber and releasing the edge of the sheet, so that it can be carried away by delivery-tapes 8.

In a press having a plurality or series of printing-cylinders, such as shown in the drawings herein, I provide sets of openings 9 arranged at convenient distances apart on the surface of the impression-cylinder, each set of openings havingits radial air-passage and valve, the radial passages preferably opening into a common air-chamber within the shaft of the impression-drum, as shown. By this arrangement and by means of my improved pneumatic gripping devices I can use an impression-drum having a continuous impression-surface and the sheets can be fed into the press very rapidly, one following closely after another, as shown in Fig. 5.

By my improved devices a large number of printing-cylinders can be employed Within a comparatively small space, sheets can be fed proper point, and being then rmly and automatically gripped by the delivery-cylinder and carried upon it during part of its rotation, and then being automatically released at the point of delivery upon the deliverytapes. The mechanism employed for this gripping is simplein character, efficient in operation, and occupies comparatively but a small space.

26 is the main driving-shaft of the press. Rotation is communicated to this from pulley 50 from any suitable source of power. Rotation is imparted to drum 2 from spur-gear 51 on shaft 26 meshing with spur-gear 52 on the shaft of the impression-drum. The means for imparting motion to the other parts of the mechanism form no part of the present invention and will not therefore be further described.

The mechanism shown in the drawings can of course be Widely varied Without departing from my invention, and my invention can be used not only in multicolor lithographie printing presses, such as that shown in the drawings herein, but also in sheet and Web presses of any character and having one or any number of printing-surfaces.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a rotary press the combination of an impression-drum having a continuous impression-surface, one or more printing-surfaces, suitable inking devices therefor, a series of sets of lopenings in the drum over which the paper is adapted to lie as it passes around the impression-drum, air-passages connecting each set of openings with a common air-chamber, valves in the air-passages adapted, when in one position to connect their respective sets of openings with the common air-chamber, and, when in another position, to connect the said openings with the atmosphere, handles for said valves, a projection on the framework of the press against which the handle of each valve is adapted to strike as the paper comes over the set of openings connected with the passage in Which the said valve is located, to turn the said valve into position to connect its set of openings with the common air-chamber, another projection on the framework of the press against which each handle is adapted to strike when the paper has reached the delivery-point to turn its valve into position to connect the said ICO IIO

openings withthe atmosphere, air-passages connecting the said chamber with an exhaust device, and an exhaust device, whereby the paper is held closely` upon the surface of the impression-drum during the print-ing operation and is automatically released atrthe point of delivery.V l

2. lIn a rotary press the combination -of an impression-drum having a continuous impression-surface, one or more printing-surfaces, suitable -inking devices therefor, a series of sets of openings in the drum` over which the paper is adapted to lie as itvpasses around the impression-drum, air-passages connecting :the sets of openings withk an exhaust device,pvalves in the air-passages adapted, .when in one position to connect their respective sets o f openings with the exhaustdevice, and, when in another position, to connect the said openings with vthe atmosphere, handles for said valves, a projection on the framework of the press against which the handle of each valve is adapted to` strike as during the printing operation and islautomatically released at the point of delivery.

- 3. In a rotary sheet-press, the combination of an impression-drum, one or more printingsurfaces, suitable inking devices therefor, sets of openings in the drum over each set of which an edge of a sheet is adapted to lie when fed into the press, a common air-chamber within the interior of the drum, air-passages connecting each set of openings with the common air-chamber, -a valve in each air-passage adapted, when in one position, to connect its set of openings with the common air-chamber and, when in another position, to connect the said openings with the atmosphere, a handle for each valve, aprojection on the framework ofthe press against which the handle of each valve is adapted to strike, as the edge of a Sheet, fed into the press, comes over the set of openings connected, with the air-passages* Y in which the said valve is located, to turn the valve into position to connect its set of openings with the common air-chamber, another projection on the framework of the press against which each handle is adapted4 to strike, when the .sheet has been printedand has reached the delivery-point, to turn its valve into position to connect said openings with the atmosphere, air-passages connecting the common air-chamber with an exhaust device, auexhaust device and suitable delivery devices, whereby ea'ch sheet willbe held in place von the .impression-drum during the1 printing operation and will be released when the printing is done. I

` 4. In a rotary sheet-press, the combination of an impression-drum, one or more ,printingsurfaces, suitable `inking. devices therefor, sets of openingslin the drum overieach set of j which an edge of'a sheet isadapted to lie when fed into the press, acommon ai r-chamber contained within the shaft of the impressiondrum and extending to one end offthe shaft, radial air-passages connectingeach set of openingswith said common Yair-chamber, a valve in each of said radial ain.- passages adapted, when in one position,rto connect its set of openings with the common air-chamber Aand whenin another position to connect them with the atmosphere, a handle for each valve, a projection on the frameworkof the press,

into position to connect the said openings with vthecommon air-chamber, another projection upon thev framework of the press.y against which the handle yis adapted to strike, after jthe sheet has been printed and hasarrived at thepoint of delivery, to turn the valve-into position to connect the said 'openings with the atmosphere, an air-pipe communicating with said commonair-chamber and leadingto an exhaust device, an air-tight joint between the shaft and the said' air-pipe adapted to permit the free rotation of the shaft, an exhaust device and suitable delivery devices, whereby each sheet will be automatically held in place upon therimpression-drum duringthe printing operation and will be automatically released when the printing is done.

5, u In a rotaryr sheet-press, the combination of animpression-drum having a continuous impression-surface, one or more printing-surfaces, suitable inking' devices therefor, sets of openings in the drum over each set of which an edge of a sheet is adapted to lie when fed `into the press, a common air-chamber contained within the shaft of the impressiondrumextending to one end of the shaft, raydial air-passages connecting each set ofopenings With said common airclamber, a valve in each of said radial air-passages adapted,

when in one position, to connect its setof openings with the common air-chamber, and, when in another position, to connect them with the atmosphere, ahandle for each valve, a projection on the framework ofthe press,

A against which each handle is adapted to strike,

as a sheet is fed into the press and the edge rjection upon the framework `of the vpress iagainst which handlelis adapted to-strike,

IOO

IIO

, thereof comes over the opening inI the drum after the sheet has been printed and has arrived at the point of delivery, to turn the valve into position to connect the said openings with the atmosphere, an air-pipe communicating with said common air-chamber and leading to an exhaust device, an air-tight joint between the shaft and the said air-pipe adapted to permit the free rotation of the shaft, an exhaust device and suitable delivery devices, whereby each sheet Will be automatically held in place upon the impression-drum during the printing operation and will be automatically released therefrom when the printing is done.

6. The combination with the im pression-surface of a press and suit-able devices for gripping and holding the paper thereon and for releasing the same, of a delivery-cylinder having openings in its surface over Which the paper is adapted to lie when released from the impression-surface, an exhaust device, air-passages connecting the openings with the exhaust device, a valve in said air-passages adapted, when in one position, to connect the openings with the exhaust device and, when in another position, to connect the openings with the atmosphere, a handle for said valve, a projection adapted to operate the said handle, when the printing is completed and the paper has been brought over the openings in the delivery-cylinder, to turn the valve into position to connect the said openings with the exhaust device, a projection adapted to operate the said handle, when the paper has been carried sufficiently around the deliverycylinder to permit of its discharge from the press, to turn the said valve into position to connect the said openings with the atmosphere, whereby the paper Will be automatically held upon the delivery-cylinder after its release from the impressionsurface and during part of the rotation of the delivery-cylinder, and will then be automatically released from the delivery-cylinder.

7. The combi nation With an impression-surface of a press and suitable devices for gripping and retaining the paper thereon and for releasing the same, of a delivery-cylinder having openings in its surface over Which the paper is adapted to lie when released from the impression-surface,an air-chamber contained within the shaft of the delivery-cylinder extending to one end of said shaft and connected with the openings on the surface of the cylinder, an exhaust device, an air-pipe communicating With said air-chamber and with the exhaust device, an air-tight joint between the end of the shaft of the delivery-cylinder and said air-pipe adapted to permit the rotation of the said cylinder, a valve in said airpipe adapted, When in one position, to connect the air-chamber with the exhaust device, and, when in another position, to connect the chamber with the atmosphere, a handle for said valve, a projection mounted upon the impression-surface and adapted to strike the said handle, when the printing is completed and the paper has been brought over the openings in the delivery-cylin der, to turn the valve into position to connect the said air-chamber with the exhaust device, a projection upon the delivery-cylinder Which is adapted to strike the said handle, when the paper has been carried suiiciently around the delivery-cylinder to permit of its discharge from the press, to

Iturn said valve into position to connect the said air-chamber with the atmosphere, Whereby the paper will be automatically held upon the delivery-cylinder after its release from the impression-surface and during part of the rotation of the delivery-cylinder,and Willthen be automatically released from the deliverycylinder.

8. In a rotary sheet-press, the combination of an impression-drum, one or more printingsurfaces, suitable inking devices therefor, openings in the drum over which an edge of the sheet is adapted to lie when fed into the press, an exhaust device, air-passages connecting the openings With the exhaust device, a valve in said air-passages adapted when in one position to connect the openings with the exhaust device, and when in another position to connect them` with the atmosphere, a handle for said valve, a projection from the framework of the press against which the valve is adapted to strike, as a sheet is fed into the press and as the edge of the sheet projects over the openings in the drum, to turn said valve into position to connect the said openings With the exhaust device, another projection from the framework of the press against which the said handle is adapted to strike, When the printing upon the sheet has been completed, to turn the valve into position to connect the said openings with the atmosphere, a delivery-cylinder having openings in its surface over Which the edge of the sheet is adapted to lie when released from the impression-drum, air-passages connecting the openings with an exhaust device, a valve adapted, when in one position, to connect the said openings with the exhaust device and, when in another position, to connect said openings with the atmosphere, a handle for said valve, a projection from the impressiondrum adapted to strike said handle, when a sheet has been printed and its edge projects over the openings in the delivery-cylinder, to turn said valve into position to connect the said openings with the exhaust device, a projection upon the delivery-cylinder adapted to strike said handle, when the sheet has been carried by the delivery-cylinder to the proper point for discharge, to turn said valve into position to connect the said openings with the atmosphere, whereby the sheet Will be auto` inatically held in place upon the impression` drum during the printing operation, Will be automatically released therefrom When the printingis completed, will then be automatically held upon the delivery-cylinder during ICO IZO

'series of sets of openings in the impressiondrum over one of which sets an edge of a sheet is adaptedto lie when fed into, the

press, a common air-chamber contained withf `in the shaft ofthe impression-drum and extending to one end of the shaft, radial airpassages connecting each set of openings with said common air-chamber, a valve ineach of sadair-'passages adapted, when in one position, to connectlits set of openings With the common air-chamber, and, When'in another position, to connect the set of openings with Athe atmosphere, a handle for each of said valves, al projection upon the framework lofV the press adapted to strike the handle, as a sheet is fed into the press and as it projects over the openings of the radial passageswith which said handle and valve are connected, to move said valveinto position to connect the said openings with the common air-chamber, another projection onthe framework of' the press adapted to strike said handle, after the sheet has been` printed, to turn the valve into position to connect the said openings `with the atmosphere, an exhaust device, an

air-pipe connecting the common air-chamber with the exhaust device, an air-tight joint around the end of the shaft between the said common airfchamber and the air-pipe adapted to permit the free rotation of the shaft, a delivery-cylinder having openings in its sur'- face over which the edge of the sheet is adapted to lie when released from the impressiondrum, an air-chamber contained within the shaft of the delivery-cylinder extending tol one end of said shaft, air-passages connecting the openings with the said air-chamber, an

Vair-pipe c'onnectingsaid air-chamber with the exhaust device, an air-tight joint between the end of the shaft of the delivery-cylinder and said air-pipe adapted to permit the rotation of the said cylinder, a valve in said airppe adapted, when in one-position, to connect the said air-chamber-Withithe exhaust device and, when in another position, `to convalve, a projection from the impression-drum adapted to strike said handle, when a sheet has beenprinted and its edge projects over the openings in the delivery-cylinder, to turn said Valve into position to connect the said openings with the exhaust device, and a projection upon the delivery-cylinder adapted to strike saidhandle,when the sheet has been carried by the delivery-cylinder to the proper point for discharge, to turn said valve into position to connect the said openings with the atmosphere, whereby the sheet will be automatically held in place upon the impressiondrum during the printing operation, will be automatically released therefrom when the printing is completed, will then be automatically held upon the delivery-cylinder during part of its rotation and will be automatically released therefrom at the proper point for delivery.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciticationin the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.Y

EDWARD HETT.

Witnesses:

EDWIN SEGER, GEO. W. MILLS, Jr.

f neet it with the atmosphere, a handle for said n 

